Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 5 | Overall: 5

500 ml dark green oval bottle, as St. Peter’s The Saints Whisky Beer, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 4.8%. Deep golden colour, low white head. Strong aroma of peat smoke / peated whisky. Medium dry flavour, strong notes of peat smoke / peated whisky and ashes. Too peaty for my taste - if they wanted to add English single malt whisky to the beer (which indeed they did), they should have reduced the amount of peat smoked malts. "Superb balance"? Not at all! The flavour is pretty close to licking an ashtray.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

On tap at Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Ruby colour, decent beige head. Malty aroma, some oaky and vinous notes. Very malty flavour, notes of caramel and oak. Nice beer!

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

500 ml oval green bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 4.8%. Deep golden colour, moderate to low white head. Strong aroma of peat smoke / peated malts. The flavour is also dominated by peat smoke and ashes, with just a hint of fruity hops in the background, dry finish. Okay, but one bottle is enough.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

355 ml can, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 8.0%. Very dark brown to mahogany colour, thick beige head. Sweetish aroma of brown malts and caramel. Very sweet and malty flavour, notes of caramel, chocolate and some smoke. Should be drunk fairly cool, else the sweetness will feel cloying.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

330 ml bottle, from Voldby Købmandsgård, Denmark. ABV is 8.0%. Amber to copper colour, slightly hazy, moderate off-white head. Sweetish aroma of malts, toffee and caramel, hints of fruit and oak, quite nice. Very sweet flavour, loads of caramel, hints of oak and dark fruits, moderate hops in the finish. Worth sampling, but not for daily indulgence.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 7

Bottle, kindly shared by abemorsten. ABV is 8.4%. Gusher bottle. Black colour, huge greyish beige head. Nice dryish smoked aroma, notes of ashes, hints of tar and old rope. Flavour of dominant smoke, smoked meat and ashes. Too dry.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

750 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 5.8%. Hazy brown colour, big to moderate off-white head. Moderate "dusty" aroma, hints of wood and yeast, just a touch of smoke. Soft and pleasant mouthfeel. The flavour has notes of oak / wood and mild spices, hints of smoke, a decent hoppy bitterness in the finish. Smoke in the aftertaste.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

500 ml bottle, kindly shared by gunnar. ABV is 10.4%. Very dark ruby colour, nearly black. Fine tan head. Lovely complex aroma, vinous, smoked, burnt, malty. The flavour is very smoked, peaty, tarry and oaky, sweet and roasty. Not a classical barley wine by any stretch of the mind, more of a "smoked imperial porter" in my book.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 6

500 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Batch #273, ABV is 8%. Very dark brown colour, big and lasting tan head. Nice aroma of smoked malts, bonfires, tar, smoked and cured meat , but also some fruity notes. The flavour is very smoky and ashy, quite dry. Meaty finish.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 9

250 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 11%, 50 IBU. Very dark brown cloudy colour, nearly black. Moderate beige head. Intense and complex aroma, bourbon, oak and vanilla, but also smoke, bonfires, salt water, old rope, tar, coffee and liquorice. The flavour is salty and distinctly smokey, with notes of liquorice and roasted malts. Medium sweet, the bourbon and vanilla notes from the barrel blend in nicely.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 5 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 6

330 ml bottle, bought in Denmark. ABV is 2.4%. Colour (E 150) added. Very dark brown colour, nearly black. Moderate tan head. Strong aroma of smoked malts, smoked meat, bonfires and tar. Thin and slightly acidic mouthfeel, but refreshing. The flavour is smoked malts from A to B, fairly dry. Moderate hops in the finish. Highly drinkable - an interesting experience.

Aroma: 10 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

500 ml unlabelled bottle, a gift from Mikkeller/Nøgne Ø via Cardinal. Black colour, big brown head. Strong roasty and smoky aroma, notes of tar and old rope rather than bacon (well yes, some uncooked bacon too). The flavour is roasty with notes of strong coffee, dark bitter chocolate and tar, also distinct smoky notes, but not quite as extreme as I expected. Hints of liquorice too, not very sweet. Ah, beer - so much more than a breakfast drink!

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

At Copen hagen Beer Festival, as Vestfyen Fyensk Røgøl. With 100% smoked malts, whereof 50% barley and 50% wheat, I assume this must be pretty close to a traditional Grätzer? Cloudy golden colour. Smoky aroma, notes of smoked sausages. Refreshing wheaty and smoky flavour, light bodied. The hoppiness is not as distinct as promised, but sufficient.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Bottle, at RBESG 2007 in Glasgow, Grand Tasting. Black colour (ruby in the highlights), tan head. Very nice roasty and smokey aroma, hints of liquorice. Roasty and smokey flavour, quite nice.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 8

500 ml bottle, batch #100, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 11%, 26 P, 50 IBU. Very dark brown colour, nearly black, with a moderate but lasting tan head. Aroma of salt water, tar, smoke and some coffee. Full and rich mouthfeel. Excellent flavour, lots of chewey malty sweetness, roasted notes, coffee, tar, some liquorice, pine needles, salty finish, noticeable hops with just the right bitterness. Very well balanced. Another great achievement from Nøgne Ø.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

500 ml bottle from Systembolaget, thanks to Ole R. ABV is 5.9%. Black colour, big to moderate tan head. Intense aroma of smoked and roasted malts, notes of bonfires and tar. The flavour is also roasty and smoky, initially fairly dry, with just a slight sweetness and acceptable hops in the finish. Hints of liquorice. Ashy aftertaste.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

500 ml bottle, bottle conditioned. Brewed with juniper and smoked malts. Dark brown colour, creamy head. The aroma is dominated by smoke (beechwood?) and oak. The flavour is very smokey and woody, with notes of hickory and tar. Dry finish.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 5 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

Bottle, RBNAG 2009 in Vatlandsvåg. Dark brown colour, nearly black, low head. Strange aroma and flavour of smoked beef, peat and tar. The flavour has also some roastiness and a very moderate sweetness.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

250 ml bottle, shared with Ole_R, thx! ABV was 11.5%. "Imperial Rauchbier / Rauchwine" brewed with honey, and stored 3 months in a new oak barrel. Deep copper coloured beer, low beige head. Intense aroma of smoke and oak. The flavour is very smoky and oaky as expected, with notes of charcoal, but is also surprisingly fruity and sweet with notes of raisins and fortified wine.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

1 pt. 6 fl. oz. bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 5.9%. Black colour, moderate beige head. Interesting aroma of roasted and smoked malts, blending seamlessly together with notes of chocolate, hints of dark fruits. The flavour is first fruity, then chocolatey and smoky, but the smoke is not overdone. Some hoppy and roasty bitterness in the finish. This is an excellent and well balanced beer!

Aroma: 10 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

750 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 6.0%. Black colour, big brown head. Strong smoky aroma, notes of smoked meat and bonfires, also some moderate roasty notes in the background. The flavour is surprisingly mild, smoky notes of course, but not extreme. Very moderate roastiness, quite dry, too modest hops. Hints of acidity throughout. Easy drinking.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

On tap at The Rover, Göteborg. Dark chestnut colour, nearly ruby when held to the light. Amazing aroma of smoke, bonfires, seaside, tar and woodwork - but not the smoked sausage aroma of German rauchbiers. Smoke and tar in the flavour too, slightly drier than I would prefer, dusty / ashy finish. Not much else going on besides the smoke and tar.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 7

330 ml bottle, L082, from Vinmonopolet. ABV is 5.5%. Black colour, moderate tan head. Sweetish malty aroma with distinct notes of beech smoke. The flavour is slightly dry, again moderately malty and roasty with distinct notes of beech smoke. Low bitterness.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

650 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 7.5%. Black colour, dark brown in the highlights. Large beige head. Smokey and roasty aroma, notes of smoked meat, mild coffee and dark chocolate. The flavour is medium sweet and moderately roasty, some coffee and dark chocolate again, the smokiness is not excessive. Moderate hops. Good beer, but I’d still prefer a Limfjordsporter to this one.

Aroma: 5 | Appearance: 5 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

Shared 500 ml gusher bottle at local tasting. Nearly black colour, large off-white head. Dryish and "thin" smokey aroma, notes of smoked meat, woody hints too. Too much carbonation. Smokey and dry flavour too, mild roasty notes in the background.